Getting Aerial On Hampton Turf

May Deadline Set For Opening Of City's Skateboarding Park

The city will provide a place for skateboarders to funny-hop, invert and get aerial to their hearts' content by mid-May, said Charles Badger, director of the city's Recreation Department.

"My deadline is May 1," Badger said. "But I'm giving myself to the 15th just in case."

After looking at several sites throughout the city, the department has chosen to build the park on Woodland Road near the Hampton Golf and Tennis Center, Badger said.

A contingent of skateboarders and their parents have been lobbying the City Council for more than a year to construct a park in the city.

Last year, the council bowed to pressure from the skaters and included $55,700 in the city's budget for the project.

A handful of skaters met with representatives from the city in September to get their input in the construction of the park.

Matt Harris, a 14-year-old who likes street skating better than ramp skating, offered to help design the flat portion of the park.

"I'm still going to keep my promise and call up that young man," Badger said.

Badger said he has not yet decided how large the flat section of the park will be. It will include curbing and small jump ramps to do tricks on.

The park's main feature will be two metal ramps, one 10 feet tall and one six feet tall. Each ramp will be about 50 feet long and will be raised about eight inches above the ground.

The park will be surrounded by a 10-foot chain-link fence and lighted at night to prevent vandalism and after-hours skating.

The park will be constructed on an existing fitness trail at Woodland Park. Only one station of the fitness trail will be affected, however, and that station will be relocated, Badger said.

The ramp will be constructed by city workers to save labor costs, he said. Ramp users will pay either a yearly fee or by the visit, he said. The ramp will probably be open from 3 to 8 p.m. until summer.

Skateboarders will be required to wear elbow pads, knee pads and helmets. A city employee will be on duty at the park at all times while the ramp will be open, Badger said.

Three skateboarders at a time will be allowed on the larger ramp, Badger said. Two can skate on the smaller one.

The city will take out no specific insurance policy for the ramp. "We're self-insured," Badger said.